Events
Upcoming Events
In the spirit of ‘Ohana and giving back to the community, we periodically hold special events that are open to everyone. For more information on any of the events listed here and others please email info@ikunakoa.com
Duke Kahanamoku Day – Sunday August 23rd 2009
On Sunday August 23rd we will recognize Duke Kahanamoku Day at our Nā ‘Ōpio 
Camp. This will be our typical pot-luck style bar-b-q with lots of hula dancing by our hui members, and a special lei offering ceremony on ke kai (the sea) in his honor. This will be a culturally rich day for our ‘ōpio as they learn about this legendary watermen and great Hawaiian role model who spread aloha throughout the world. He is considered the father of modern day surfing but was also a legendary canoe paddler. There is much more to this famous watermen as our keiki’s will discover at our event when I sit them down and talk story with them.
Pacific Islander Festival – Sept 26th & 27th 2009
Please come visit us at the 15th annual Pacific Islander Festival on Ski Beach on beautiful San Diego Mission Bay. We will have our booth setup near the water again and will have many of our Hawaiian crafts and canoes on display. We will also be handing out information on our club and how you can learn to paddle an outrigger canoe.
Outrigger Canoe Races - See Race page for entire race season schedule
Ikuna Koa is very excited about the 2009 racing season. Clubs from all over Southern California and Arizona participate and compete a
gainst one another in this exciting aquatic sport. Come join us at a racing event and see for yourself why outrigger canoe racing is one of the fasting growing aquatic sports in the world today.
2009 Race Schedule:
The 2009 racing season is upon us!
Last year our club concluded the season with an outstanding performance from our novice and our keiki teams. This racing season took our crews as far north as Avila Beach for the Pineapple Express race in San Luis Obispo County and as far south west as Kona Hawai‘i for the 36th annual Queen Lili‘uokalani Outrigger Canoe Race. At every race our ‘ohana showed their tremendous spirit for the culture and sport of Outrigger Canoe Racing.
Recent Events
Menehune Camp – 2009
Our 2nd annual Nā`Ōpio Menehune Camp was once again a very successful event with a great turnout that not only included our nā `ōpio (youths) and their mākua 
(parents), we also had many of our malihini (novice) and open team paddlers join us. The `ōpio and mākua really loved the makini (Hawaiian Warrior Helmet) craft project we prepared for them. The creativity of our keiki’s really impressed me. They drew all kinds of different designs on their makini helmets and painted them with all the colors of the anuenue (rainbow). Nā`Ōpio/Ikuna Koa T-shirts where handed out to our keiki’s, compliments of one of our program sponsors, Genesis Graphics, Inc. of Poway Ca., who outfitted our Nā`Ōpio program participants with this generous makana (gift).
Ho cuz! We had choke grindz, ya (plenty of food)! Dinner was prepared for our `ōpio by their mākua with Auntie Judy cooking over 17 pounds of Kalua Pork which was quickly consumed by our overwhelming appetites. The potato salad and the many pupu’s (desserts) were also onolicious! The marshmallow roast and hot chocolate next to the fire ring was also a popular venue in the early evening after the kaukau (food) was consumed. The mākua of course enjoyed 100 percent fresh ground Kona coffee.
After Ka La (the sun) went down, it was time to pā`ina (party). Once the tiki torches were lit, lighting up our Makaha theater, the nā `ōpio opened the evening entertainment with some Hawaiian Hula and Tahitian dance performances. Our mākua also did a couple of hula dances and one of them did a hula hoe wa`a (canoe paddle dance). The performances were da kine, brah!
After the Hula and Tahitian dance performances were completed, we started our movie screening. The first movie we showed is called “The Ride”. This movie is about a modern arrogant surfer who drowns only to come back to life over a hundred years earlier and becomes best friends with Duke Kahanamoku (the father of modern day surfing). The second move is called “Voyagers, The First Hawaiians’” and was an impressive narrative of how the Hawaiian Islands were discovered by the Polynesian ancestors thousands of years ago. The story is told through the animation and still paintings of the Polynesian picture painting genius Herb Kawainui Kane. The cultural consultant for this wonderful movie was Uncle Danny Akaka from the Big Island of Hawai`i.
We began the next morning with our traditionally Pu (Conch blowing) ceremony that we always perform when our nā `ōpio meet. We then did an oli (chant) calling on all of our ancestors to witness our day’s events. We then formed a large circle with everyone holding hands to represent a Hawaiian Lei and did our traditional pule (prayer) to thank Akua (God) for our many blessings and to watch over us.
While the onolicious breakfast was being served which included taro pancakes, malasadas, spam, rice, scrambled eggs, hash browns, pandesal, and much more, Maui radio station KPOA was streaming through the internet and onto our loud speaker for everyone’s entertainment. After breakfast was served and everyone ate, we headed for “Kahakai O Nā`Ōpio” (Nā`Ōpio beach; aka West De Anza Cove).
At Kahakai O Nā`Ōpio everyone enjoyed their successful and some not as successful standup paddle board (SUP) experiences. The keiki’s really loved this activity and are looking forward to doing it again. It is our goal to make well rounded watermen out of our keiki’s so we try to expose them to various aquatic activities as they relate to 
ancient Hawaiian sports. A SUP board looks like a long surfboard but rather than paddling with your hands, you use a paddle with a long shaft to propel yourself. After several spills in the water, some of them on purpose, our keiki’s quickly got the hang of it. The smiles were ear-to-ear as they raced each other on the water and tried to make each other fall off one another’s SUP board. The SUP boards were generously loaned to us by Bob’s Mission Surf Shop at no charge. Bob is a very accomplished surfer and SUP paddler. Bob is also huge fan of aquatic activities and is a great advocate of many youth programs and of course our Nā`Ōpio program. Mahalo nui loa Uncle Bob!
Words simply can’t describe the fun everyone had at our Menehune Camp so I included some of the pictures I took over the weekend and posted them on our picture page of our website for all to enjoy.
Mahalo nui loa to all of you who helped make this Menehune Camp so special for our nā `ōpio. To those of you who could not attend…you were missed.
Aloha, e mālama pono e me ke Akua – Uncle Gus!
Maui No Ka ‘Oe:
In late July of 2009 some of our Nā ‘Ōpio took a field trip to Maui. While there they had an incredible experience paddling with the Kihei Canoe Club (our sister club on 
Maui). They also had the opportunity to work on an ancient replica of a double hull Polynesian sailing canoe. They got to plant and harvest kalo (taro) which is known for making poi and whose leaves are used for cooking food in an imu (underground oven). They were also taught several nā oli (chants) and a paddle haka by Maui’s Hawaiian Spiritual and cultural leader Kimokeo Kapahulehua aka “Uncle Bully”. Taking some of our ‘ōpio to Maui has been one of my main goals since founding the Nā ‘Ōpio cultural immersion program in 2008. Please see our events picture page to see some of the activities our nā ‘ōpio participated in with this once in lifetime experience.
Saturday July 17, 2009:
Our Nâ ‘Ôpio take 3rd place in the 16 and under Wahine division at the Kahakai Sprints in Long Beach California. This was a another fantastic day for our ‘ōpio 
wahine. They have been practicing a great deal and it has shown on the water. They were neck-to-neck with another crew for second place. The way I seen it and you can too on our picture page, they took second place. Oh well, the race officials have the last word and they said it was third place. Regardless, I have to say that we all agreed on one thing. The medals provide for the winners at this regatta are some of the nicest we have seen at any recent scora races. Checkout the pictures of this event on our pictures page of this website. Again, Hana hou Ikuna Koa!!!
Saturday June 27, 2009:
Our Nâ ‘Ôpio take 2nd place in the 16 and under Wahine division at the Kai Elua 
2009 Iron Champs race. This was a fantastic day full of typical race day chaos for the coaches. With a historic eight Ikuna Koa crews on the water that day, we made club history looking SOLID! Checkout the pictures of this event on our pictures page of this website. Hana hou Ikuna Koa!!!
The Ninth Island - Lake Las Vegas Regatta!
Many Hawaiian's call Las Vegas, Nevada the "Ninth Island" and if you attended this event it would be abundantly evident why. A mixed plate of kāne from our club participated in the open division of the Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club's Lake Las Vegas Regatta on October 20th & 21, 2007. Considering the short amount of time we had to practice 
together and the competition we faced, I am very proud of our team's effort in this regatta. As one of the participants I can tell you I am really looking forward to participating again next year. The festivities started with a Friday night lū‘au and was followed by two days of sprint races and all day long entertainment. Saturday's opening ceremony naturally included the blowing of the pū, an opening pule, and chant by Uncle Luki of the Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club. This is one of the best chant performances I have ever heard either on the islands or the mainland. I am here to tell you this Uncle has talent and den some! Las Vegas is so fortunate to have a Uncle like Uncle Lucki. The non stop entertainment included many different halau's, and a mixture of Tahitian and other Polynesian dance troops. There were also various Hawaiian music groups, and chanters, the talent and the outstanding performances never let up. There was also a performance by local Native American dancers, and a Chinese Dance Troop and an excellent martial arts demonstration. Vendor's where everywhere with Island apparel with the contagious aloha spirit radiating in the air.
Many of the local SCORA clubs participated such as Imua, Newport Outrigger, Marina Del Rey, Kai Ellua, Arizona Dry Heat, Lake Havasu City, and Hawaiian nuff said, just to name a few. There were also several clubs from Hawaii such as Big Island Canoe Club, Kamehameha, Waikiki Yacht Club, and others. The wahine from the Waikiki Yacht Club numbered into the dozens and their aloha and orange race jersey's were everywhere.
The canoes were provided by SCORA's NAC.
Please checkout our Pictures page to see more pictures of this fantastic event!
One Of Our ‘Ohana Gets Married!
We were all recently honored to provide our Sistah Stephanie "Aloha - Girl" a homegrown Hawaiian Style wedding at De Anza Cove on beautiful Mission Bay. The wedding was com
plete with the Pū (conch) being blown to start the ceremony, some Hula dancing by our keiki dancers, and a couple of Hawaiian chants to wish them the best. A double hull canoe was fabricated for this event and the bride and groom where paddled back to the Mission Bay Boat & Ski Club where we all enjoyed the reception. The reception was a fun filled lū‘au with traditional Hawaiian Music, hula dancing, Hawaiian Food, and later a live band. Please visit our picture page to see some pic's from this beautiful event.
The Second annual Fundraiser Feast with Polynesian Entertainment was a hit!
Our second annual Spaghetti Feast with Polynesian entertainment was another magnificent success. On April 28th, 2007 The Mission Bay Boat & Ski Club was 
transformed into a tropical paradise. The club house was decorated with Tiki torches lined against the walls. Palm leaves, Bird of Paradise leaves, and tea leafs where everywhere you looked. Island tunes played in the background to complement the décor-if you didn’t know better - you thought for certain you were in old Hawaii.
Approximately 200 guests arrived in Aloha attire to participate in the festivities. The smell of spaghetti noodles and home made sauces, and garlic bread filled the air. Some of the Spaghetti sauces were so rich you almost needed a steering blade to stir them.
Some of the pre dinner activities included some history on our Hawaiian Outrigger Canoes and the canoe culture surrounding the sport. Some of the guest also participated in land based paddling lessons.
The dinner line proved to be well worth the wait. The various home made sauces for the spaghetti noodles were outstanding and people returning for second servings was a testament to this fact. The garlic bread and salad were also very popular items. Of course there was an abundance of deserts including apple pie, brownies, Ki-lime Pie, and so much more.
What followed next is unforgettable. The first of two videos showed the team at various races and events from last year. The smiles were ear-to-ear as it became even more obvious to our audience that this club is very close and made it clear why we consider each other ‘ohana. The second video was one produced by our governing body which is the Southern California Outrigger Racing Association. This video showed many of the different teams on race day. The teams shown ranged from San Diego to Santa Barbara and out of states member clubs including, Arizona and Nevada.
The entertainment provided by our own club members included solo and group Kāne (Men) and Wahine (Women) hula dances. The swaying and hand motions of the hula dances were hypnotizing. The costumes designed and fabricated by our club members were beautiful and strikingly authentic and the level of talent was second to none. We also had some of the audience participate in some of the dances. They were having the time of their lives as the crowd applauded their performance.
Then the conch shell was blown to summon the gods and the men followed with several Maori war dances known as a peruperu a.k.a Ha-ka. With their faces and bodies tattooed like Maori warriors they captured the audience’s attention and imagination while they took them back to old New Zealand.
Between stage performances a raffle was held and many fine gifts were awarded to those lucky people who purchased raffle tickets. Some of the gifts included an IPod, Wine 
Glasses, and a beautiful authentic handmade “Ipu” (gourd drum) which was the grand prize.
The afternoon entertainment concluded with three of our club members performing a ‘Ukulele Jam on their instruments. The mele’s (Songs) were soothing to the soul and a great way to end the festivities.
All of the planning, decorating, and chorography, came together and ticked like a fine Swiss watch. The spaghetti feast was a wonderful success due to the terrific efforts of our team members, who pitched in with their creative and energetic juices to make this a first rate event and one that all will remember for a long time to come.
Please visit our Pictures page for more photos of this fantastic event.
Mahalo to all, aloha and a hui ho.
The blessing of our new Wa‘a (Canoe) - Sunday November 12, 2006:
The blessing of our new wa‘a "Māhoa", was a traditional and culturally spiritual event! The blessing ceremony was performed by Kahuna "Uncle Koko" and included ancient Hawaiian chants and prayers. The blessing ceremony was followed by a traditional
Hawaiian Lū‘au with Hula dancing performed by Kumu "Aunti Barbara's" Halau O' Pualani. The witnesses included our team members and special guests from other clubs and their ‘ohana. We are all proud to have Mahoa as the newest member of our ‘Ohana.
Everyone worked very hard to make this event very special. We hope you enjoy the pictures of our ceremony and celebration. This was truly a magical moment for all of us. Ikuna Koa Outrigger Canoe Club would like to extend a giant mahalo to Uncle Koko for blessing our new canoe. We would also like to say mahalo to kumu Aunti Barbara and all of the Wahine and Kane from Hālau O' Pualani for their excellent hula and Tahitian dance performance. Our "Pictures" page describes this event better than words ever could. Mahalo to all of those who attended and those that wanted to but were not able to.
Kona Hawaii- Queen Lili' Race 2006
The Queen Lili‘uokalani Long-Distance Outrigger Canoe Race is the worlds largest outrigger canoe race. This year marked the 35th anniversary of this event. The race was once again sponsored by the "The Big Island's" Kai'opua Canoe Club. Teams from around 
the world arrived in Kailua - Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii to compete and participate in the festivities. Our club participated in the 18 mile race with two women and one men's team. The 18-mile long Iron race took place on Saturday September 2, 2006 and was followed by a 6-mile tandem outrigger canoe race on Sunday September 3, 2006. An award Ceremony, Lū‘au, and torchlight parade of paddlers followed the canoe races. Our pictures page tell the story of the event. Please enjoy them an share them with your friends and ‘Ohana.
Newsletter - download the inaugural issue of our club "Newsletter"
Ikuna Koa is proud to present our first ever club newsletter. We think you will find this newsletter very informative with regards to some past and current events surrounding the club. So without further ado, download your copy today and share its aloha spirit with friends and family.
Community Service Events
High Tech High School Hoe (Paddle)
On March 14, 2008 twelve Student's who are studying ancient Polynesian culture at 
Point Loma's High Tech High School, got some hands on experience with the culture to augment their classroom studies. We covered the Hawaiian names for various parts of the Hawaiian Canoe and paddle. We also explained some Hawaiian history and various cultural aspects of the Hawaiian outrigger canoe. We then gave a quick course in the basic paddle stroke, canoe safety, and the Hawaiian commands used in the canoe. Afterward, we went for a paddle that the students really enjoyed. If you'd like more information about this event or you would like us to consider hosting a similar event for your organization, please email info@ikunakoa.com.
Disabled Vet Paddler Program
Hawaiian Adaptive Outrigger Canoe Program - The Mission Bay outrigger clubs and the San Diego Adaptive Sports Foundation have joined together to start the first ever 
Southern California Adaptive Paddler Program for disabled military returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, disabled Veterans and disabled members of the community. With guidance from the Wounded Warriors Program and DS/USA from New York, as well as the support of Balboa Naval Medical Center, the program was launched on Feb 9, 2007, with 10 Marines who recently returned from the war. As you can see from the picture, they were "into it" from the start. If you'd like more information, or to be a sponsor of this terrific program, please email info@ikunakoa.com.
SD Blind Ski Program
The SD Blind Ski Program takes sight impaired kids and adults out on the bay for water skiing, or boat rides. There are several of these every summer, and the paddlers help by pitching in to cook and serve them in a luncheon feast after a morning on the water. 2007 dates will be available soon.
Spina Bifida Annual Picnic
The annual picnic for the Spina Bifida Association of Greater San Diego was held on Sunday July 23, 2006. Once again, this proved to be a very rewarding experiance for those paddlers in the club who volunteered to help with the event. Kids with Spina Bfida and their families where welcome guests in our outrigger canoes. The smiles where contagious and the joy was endless.
Come join us on the water!
Directions to the Mission Bay Boat & Ski Club will be emailed to you with your reservation confirmation. Reservations are required to don't delay, please register for this fun and exciting class by emailing: info@ikunakoa.com